Elsa Segura pleads guilty to kidnapping in connection to Monique Baugh's killing
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Elsa Segura, once sentenced to life in prison for aiding in the murder of real estate agent Monique Baugh, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday for kidnapping in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence.
Background
On New Year’s Eve in 2019, 28-year-old Baugh showed up to a fake home showing in Maple Grove, where she was then kidnapped, tortured, and eventually killed. Segura was accused of setting up the showing to help her then-boyfriend and two other men who participated in the crime.
A jury found her guilty on aiding and abetting charges of attempted premeditated first-degree murder, kidnapping, and first-degree murder while committing kidnapping. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
However, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned her conviction in January. Justices said the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence and that the trial judge made an error in jury instructions.
What's new?
Elsa Segura to enter plea, be resentenced
Elsa Segura is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday to enter a new plea and be sentenced in the death of Relator Monique Baugh. Segura was initially sentenced to life in prison, but the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned her conviction earlier this year. She was scheduled to head to trial in October but has since reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Segura was entitled to a new trial, which was set to begin in October, but the 32-year-old has since reached a plea agreement with Hennepin County prosecutors.
She pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping to commit great bodily harm in exchange for a sentence of 240 months (20 years) with credit for time served.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty spoke after the sentencing to discuss the plea deal.
"I want to acknowledge how difficult having this case reopened by the Minnesota Supreme Court has been for the Baugh family," Moriarty said. "Part of our team's reasoning for setting this case without trial is to prevent that from happening again while obtaining a sentence that reflects Miss Segura's role in this absolutely horrific crime."
Dig deeper
Segura’s conviction is not the only one thrown out in connection to Baugh’s killing. The state Supreme Court overturned Lyndon Wiggins conviction after ruling in March that the judge in his case also made mistakes during jury instructions.
Meanwhile, the high court heard appeals from the other two men convicted in the case, but upheld their sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Wiggins is scheduled to next appear in court on Thursday.